Green Ohio Energy 2007 Solar Tour Fact Sheet
Site Owner: Jacobson Residence
Address: 22215 Mayles Ridge Road Stewart, OH 45778 (appointment only please)
Site Type: Residential X
Commercial ____
Agricultural ____
Institutional ____
Type of System: (Check all that apply)
Solar PV X
Green Design X
Solar Thermal X
Biomass____
Passive Solar X
Low Impact Hydro____
Wind____
Geothermal____
LEED____
Other____
Site Description:
 Green Design
o Residential structure oriented on a south facing slope, just below a north-south
ridgeline, protected from the west by the ridge and native Virginia Pine.
o The owner has been visioning this creation since the late 1970s and it is still a
work in process. Her original designs were adapted based upon available
materials and a no-debt approach. She also designed the PV system.
o The land was cleared to accommodate a small opening in the woods with a pond
located in front of the home to allow unimpeded access to the solar rays.
o The trees were used for lumber via a portable saw mill and other local wood was
accessed via a neighborhood mill.
o Neighbors and local contractor, Royal Barn Builders, were employed to help build
the structure.
o Many of the materials were salvaged from low-cost warehouse outlets and
construction industry excess, including the double-pane thermal windows.
o An envelope design with a solar slab, south-facing windows, thick recycled
cellulose insulation in the ceiling and upper walls, and thermal curtains created
from low-cost comforters sealed on the edges tremendously reduce the need for
back-up heat, i.e. firewood. (Additional sealing and insulation is still needed.)
o Energy efficient appliances, many salvaged from our disposable society, and a
electric/propane refrigerator.
 Off-Grid Photovoltaic Electrical system: 2 kW PV array
o 12 - Sharp 170 DC Watt Solar Panels
o 2 Unirac Top of Pole mounts that are positioned on the side of the pond like high
tech yard art.
o Outback Power System
o MX60 charge controller
o Outback VFX3648 true sine wave inverter
o Outback remote temperature sensors
o Outback Mate Remote Monitor and Control
o Outback Power System mounting plate and associated equipment.
o 8 - 546 Amp-hour deep cycle 6 volt Surrette Rolls batteries with 4368 AH @ 6
volt total storage capacity.
o A custom designed vented and insulated box to also be enclosed within a
conditioned space, i.e. green house, in the future.
 Solar Thermal hot water system: 74 kBtu/day
o 2 Heliodyne 4x8 Gobi collectors
o Heliodyne exchanger
o expansion tank, 2 dial thermometers, and related equipment
o 119 gallon insulated water tank.
o Food grade glycol fluid filled system
Green Ohio Energy 2007 Solar Tour Fact Sheet

Project Duration: The owner first applied for the Ohio Energy Rebate in 2004. This
recent application was submitted in March of2006. The agreements with the state and
the installer were signed in the fall of 2006. The work was initiated in December of 2006
and the PV was powered-up in January 2007, the ST in June and with all of the
associated inspections completed by July 2007. The state has not yet issued the rebate.
System Cost:
 Original estimate: $29, 606.00
 Actual costs: Total: $39,703.68 (PV: $25,383.97 ST: $14,319.71)
 Rebate (yet to be received): $9,360.00
 Total minus Rebate: $30, 343. 68
(Please note that running grid power to the site would have cost more than $45,000.00, and
the monthly utility bills would have been on-going, not to mention the hidden costs of
particulates, mercury, carbon, etc., in our environment, increased health problems, mountain
top removal, etc.)
System Cost Per Watt:
 PV: $25,383.97/2000 DC Watts = $12.69 per Watt DC
 ST: $14,319.71/74 kBTU = $193.50 per kBTU
Grants/Funding Utilized: $9,360.00 rebate ($3.50 per watt and $30.00 per kBTU/day) and a
related low interest loan. (Ohio Department of Development, Office of Energy Efficiency:
Renewable Energy Incentives Energy Loan Fund (ELF-06) Rebate and the Energy Efficiency
Revolving Loan Program)
Estimated Annual Production: Total maximum array output specs report 2040 DC Watts.
We use between 2-9 Kwh AC per day, therefore the system is producing at least 710 to 3195
Kwh AC per year and the batteries have never dropped down below 50% state of discharge
even though the generator has not been needed to provide back-up power to charge the
batteries. Please refer to the spreadsheets located at www.broadwellhill.org for detailed
information on production, insolation, and usage.
Estimated Utility Savings: This is a challenge to calculate since the home is off-grid and does
not have any public utility bills but I estimate I am now saving approximately $140.00 per month
in gasoline for the generator (which has not run to charge batteries since this system was
powered-up), propane for hot water, and firewood for back-up heat. Please refer to the BHLC
Addendum for more information.
Environmental Impact / Pollution Avoided Over 25 Years (data provided by GEO):
45,221 lbs. CO2 / 1 kW = 90,442 lbs
131 lbs. SO2 / 1 kW = 262 lbs
145 lbs. NOx / 1 kW = 290 lbs
8.9 lbs. particulates / 1 kW = 17.8 lbs
Please refer to the BHLC addendum for more specific information related to this system.
Challenges/Lessons Learned: Please refer to the grant reports located at
www.broadwellhill.org for detailed information on challenges/lessons learned. Also feel free to
contact the owner at Kathy@broadwellhill.org or 740-448-4000 if you have any specific
questions.
Installation Company & Contact Information:
(Please feel free to contact the owner for reference information.)
Dovetail Solar And Wind
740-592-1800
16675 Canaanville Hills Road
info@dovetailsolar.com
Athens, Ohio 45701